West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-11-18
HAMPERS FERRY LETTER.

ue ulOSJ aSIcedUlc news We no VIC
TO communicate this week-except-
ing what regards the rapid progress
of the Pulp-mill-is that. workmen
have been busy for several days
putting up or putting down, as you
may choose, posts for the street
lamps so long expected. Much
credit is due TO the ladies, by whose
exertions sufficient funds for the
purpose were collected, and WE per
sOnslly owe somebody thanks for
having fixed on location very close
TO our shanty for one of the lamps.
We love light in every sense of the
word and, furthermore, we will vol
unteer an admission that perhaps
every man would not be willing to
make of himself, that we need
great deal of it, Notwithstanding the
eager curiosity with which we have
sought it for nearly three score
years. Whether the lamp was
placed so near us because of a gen
eral understanding of our deficiency
or as a compliment to our devotion
to study we know not, but whichever
it is, we are thankful, and will be
more than satisfied if the light from
it be half as bright as that from the
eyes of the fair ladies who worked
so nobly for this CREST improvement.
Sometimes, too, the old "Schoolmas-
ter is abroad" when he ought to be
in bed and, as belated Bohemians
are often subject to fits OF abstrac-
ton at the "wee sma' hours" after
midnight and sometimes waste
good deal of precious time in the
darkness and confusion Of ideas fit
ting pen-knives, cork-Screws or other
extraneous matters to key-holes, we
expect decided benefits from this
discreet arrangement.
The mention Of the Schoolmaster
abroad" reminds us of little matter
that occurred to us few days ago
which goes to prove that the peda
gOgue ought to be KEPT abroad lit
tie more than he is at present. We
encountered one day last week at the
railroad depot here a traveller of
American birth, Judging from his
accent, and respectable and intelli-
gent to all appearances. He no
ticed the words "John Browns
Fort" inscribed over the door of the
old Engine House and asked us, who
happened to pass at the time, who
John Brown was; if he had served
in the war and, if so, was he Con
federate? OF course, we gave the
desired information, stating that the
hero of the Engine House was, in
his day, Louisiana planter, that
he commanded all army corps in the
service of the Confederacy, and that
he once held the little building
against an immense host of Yankees
that outnumbered his force ten
thousand to one and thus conferred
an undying fame on himself and the
scene of his great exploit. We also
mentioned the legend that, though
he has been dead nearly 80 years,
his mighty soul is still marching
on" although opinions widely differ
as to the region wherein the advance
is occurring-some calling it Heaven
and others SheOl and, suspecting
that perhaps our new acquaintance
was taking advantage of the guile
less innocence so plainly portrayed
in our ingenious countenance we
that if he desired an inter
view with the progressive shade of
the old hero he might follow it to
either place-which Of the two was
to US q matter of indifference. But
we did him an injustice or more
than justice for he opened his eyes
wide with wonder at the heat of our
manner, ana we having ever on US
that we will yet be a
victim of the raid-the last perhaps
as we narrowly missed the honor of
being the first-mOved away from
him to postpone the catastrophe as
long as possible.